The Japanese sure don’t shy away from a shandy – yet when the Japanese Foreign Ministry recently conducted an audit of its embassies, consulates and government offices abroad, even they found the stocks sobering.

The Japanese sure don’t shy away from a shandy – yet when the Japanese Foreign Ministry recently conducted an audit of its embassies, consulates and government offices abroad, even they found the stocks sobering.

As diplomatic notes go, it wasn’t exactly full of diplomacy. Nine embassies, including those of Britain, the United States, Germany, Japan and Switzerland issued a statement condemning the lack of transparency in tenders…

As diplomatic notes go, it wasn’t exactly full of diplomacy. Nine embassies, including those of Britain, the United States, Germany, Japan and Switzerland issued a statement condemning the lack of transparency in tenders…

Three weeks ago, the ascent of the Nick Clegg’s Liberal Democrats seemed like the relief Britain needed from a tiresome tug-of-war between the Conservative’s David Cameron and the Labour prime minister Gordon Brown. But as…

Three weeks ago, the ascent of the Nick Clegg’s Liberal Democrats seemed like the relief Britain needed from a tiresome tug-of-war between the Conservative’s David Cameron and the Labour prime minister Gordon Brown. But as…

Icebreaking is in the DNA of Finns, whose shipping heritage and expertise put it in good stead to face the changes ahead, from foreign competition to climate change and a race for the Arctic’s resources.

They’re a safe haven for journalists away from whatever turmoil is going on in the region. Sadly, they’ve also gone out of fashion in most corners of the world. We visit three foreign correspondents’ clubs that still hold…

Brazil’s third-largest city is well below the international radar compared with Rio and São Paulo. But things are changing in Belo Horizonte, as the economic boom continues to attract major national and foreign investment…

Even though La Candelaria is in Bogotá’s city centre parts of it feel like a remote Andean village. With its colonial mansions, bohemian atmosphere and plans for regeneration afoot, foreign property buyers are investing in…

When he’s covering the world’s most dangerous conflict zones, from Afghanistan to Iraq and back again, celebrated war correspondent and author John Simpson frequently daydreams about fish and chips. He chooses London’s J…

Hungary’s foreign affairs minister discusses the challenges facing his country’s EU presidency, the importance of an increased role for central Europe and his government’s reputation for media bashing.

His cosmopolitan background and bullish enthusiasm for the EU have made Poland’s foreign minister a key voice in European politics. Now Radek Sikorski is urging Europe to learn the hard lessons of its own history.

“Have you ever been shot?” The question was asked in all innocence. He meant no harm. He was genuinely interested in the answer. And yet, underneath, there was a sense of scepticism. Perhaps an understandable sense of…

“Have you ever been shot?” The question was asked in all innocence. He meant no harm. He was genuinely interested in the answer. And yet, underneath, there was a sense of scepticism. Perhaps an understandable sense of…

Waking from the nightmare of war, occupation and civil unrest, Iraq has ambitious plans for the renovation and remodelling of its cities and infrastructure. The rebuiliding isn’t purely a physical process – a new mindset…

If you’re Germany, you have no option but to assert yourself globally with a softly, softly approach. Since the fall of the Wall, Germany’s foreign office has become master of gently promoting ‘Brand Germany’, with Berlin…

Norway’s minister of foreign affairs is a firm believer in dialogue, which includes analysing the painful massacre last July. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t prepared to send in the troops overseas if deemed necessary.